Former Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel rolls out during pro pay at Florida State University Tuesday, March 19, 2013, in Tallahassee, Fla. / Phil Sears, AP

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

Pro day? Pro week is more like it. And so, the predraft evaluation whirlwind tour of Florida State quarterback E.J. Manuel continues.

It began with Saturday's workout for Buffalo Bills brass in Tallahassee, Fla., followed by Monday's showcase for the Jacksonville Jaguars. A Philadelphia Eagles contingent flies in tomorrow, then there's a Good Friday showing for the Cincinnati Bengals.

So, Manuel will take a well-deserved break on Easter Sunday, right?

"What's funny is that if I had a workout for a team on Sunday, I'd be more than willing to do that, too,'' Manuel told USA TODAY Sports by phone Wednesday. "I think I have a really good chance to go in the first round of the draft.

"If a team wants to take a shot on me -- and I think they should, they'll get a great quarterback -- somebody who is really going to help their franchise.''

The 6-5, 237-pound Manuel, who compiled a 25-6 career record, third best in Florida State history, has good reason to spend Sunday with his family. His mom, Jackie is in remission from breast cancer and just returned to work last week.

"She was diagnosed in August, so all of my senior year, I had that in the back of my mind,'' Manuel said. "It wore on me. My mom didn't want it to wear on me, but it's my mom. And I wanted her to be okay.

"It just goes to my competitive nature to persevere and still go out there, make plays and lead my team. Because I still had a job to get done.''

No wonder Manuel posted his invitation to the April 25-27 draft on Instagram recently. He's ecstatic his mom and dad will accompany him to New York City.

Manuel, climbing the draft boards of draft experts, could join West Virginia's Geno Smith's and possibly Matt Barkley as first-round selections in the draft. Barkley showed off his arm for the first time since suffering a Nov. 17 throwing shoulder sprain at Wednesday's University of Southern California pro day.

Manuel wasn't watching.

"I'm actually headed to the gym right now,'' Manuel said. "I'm a big believer in working. I'm not really worried about what Matt or Geno or those other guys are doing. That's not to disrespect anybody. I don't watch the NFL Network or read the mock drafts. I focus on what I can do to get better.''

After workouts for the Bills, Jaguars, Eagles and Bengals, the Cleveland Browns are penciled in for April 5. And the Oakland Raiders and Arizona Cardinals have expressed further interest.

By the way, that's six of the top eight teams in the draft studying the Seminoles star.

Manuel can drive throws to all levels of the field. He ran a 4.65-second, 40-yard dash, and the three-time captain joined former West Virginia star Pat White as the lone quarterbacks in FBS history to win four consecutive bowl games.

"Geno Smith and E.J. Manuel are the two quarterbacks in this draft who can help you win games as opposed to managing games,'' Mayock told USA TODAY Sports. "You can compare Manuel to another former Florida State kid coming out of the same pro-style system, Christian Ponder (who went 12th in 2011 to Minnesota).

"Christian is an athletic kid. But Manuel has more upside.''

Manuel might have a shorter learning curve, given his experience running a pro-style offense.

"He's got all the tools to get himself into the first round,'' said Ken Mastrole, Manuel's quarterback coach since January. "He's a very humble, hard-working guy who is hungry to continue his climb as one of the top quarterbacks.''

Manuel's ability to run the trendy read option further enhances his stock.

"Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson and RGIII, with their ability to change the launch point from the pocket, are throwing defenses off right now,'' Mastrole said. "E.J.'s not as physical a runner as Cam Newton. But he's got Cam's ability to break away and can also pick a team apart from the pocket.''

The knock against Manuel is inconsistent play and qustionable pocket presence during his 23-touchdown, 10-interception 2012 season. Still, Mayock believes a team will be compelled to take him in the first round.

"Who would I be betting on in this quarterback class? I decided Manuel is the guy,'' Mayock said. "There are enough holes in all these kids' games that if I'm going to make a mistake, it's going to be with a big athletic kid with arm talent. He's raw, but E.J.'s got a lot of talent."